Selective sequence timer



Mafh 15, 1960 I F. E. wlLLARD y 2,928,911

SELECTIVE SEQUENCETIMER y Filed April 14, 1958 INVENTOR Fran/r E. W//ara' BY MW@ ATTORNEYS 'vaf United States Patent sELEcTrvE SEQUENCE TIMER Frank E. Willard, Dallas, Tex.

Application April 14, 1958, Serial No. 728,312 2 claims. (ci. zoo-3s) y This invention relates to new and useful improvements in selective sequence timers.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved timer for controlling the actuation of a plurality of electrical switches in any desired sequence yand at any desired intervals.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved selective sequence timer having common means for supporting and revolving a plurality of actuating elements into contact with a plurality of electrical switches to control the operation thereof, the positions of the elements being variable so that the sequence and duration of the operation of the switches may be readily changed whenever desired.

A particular object of the invention is to provide an improved timer, of the character described, which includes a rotatable member having a plurality of openings arranged in a circle about its axis of rotation and adapted to selectively support the actuating elements for movement paststhe switches, said elements being of different configurations so as to contact only predetermined switches. Y

. An Aimportant object of the invention is to provider an improved timer, of the character described, wherein the rotatable member and actuating elements are so mounted that the same can be easily removed for repair and adjustment.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved timer, of the character described, having auxiliary means mountable on the actuating elements for contacting an additional switch to further vary the operation of the device being controlled.

A construction designed to carry out the invention will be hereinafter described, together with other features of the invention.

The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of the following specification and by reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein an example of the invention is shown, and wherein:

Fig. 1 is a top elevational view of a selective sequence timer constructed in accordance with the invention and mounted in coacting relation to a plurality of electrical switches of the type employed in laundry machine controls,

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the timer and control,

Fig. 3 is a front elevational view, partly broken to show the relationship of the actuating elements to the switches,

Fig. 4 is a rear elevational view of the control,

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view of the switches and actuating elements, and

Fig. 6 is an enlarged, side elevational view, partly in section, of one of the actuating elements mounted on the rotatable member and carrying auxiliary actuating means.

In the drawing, the numeral 10 designates a selective sequence timer embodying the features of the invention and shown mounted in coacting relation to an electrical control 11 of the type employed in laundry and similar V2,928,911 Patented Mar. l5, 1960 1 machines for the purpose of illustration. Specifically, the

control 11 is for washing machines and includes a plate or support 12 which may be in an upright position and which has a motor 13 mounted on the rear side thereof by suitable posts 14. A relatively large gear 15 is fixed on Ithe inner end of a shaft 16 extending through the plate 12 for meshing with the drive gear 17 of the motor 13. On the opposite or front side of the plate, a suitable bearing 18 is provided for rotatably supporting the shaft 16. A switch 19, such as a pressure-actuated water level switch, is mounted on posts 20 on the rear side of the plate to vone side of and preferably above the driven gear 15 (Figs. 1, 2 and 4). The switch 19 includes an arm 21 which is adapted to be actuated by a plunger 22 reciprocally supported by the plate and having its head 23 projecting through said plate to the front side thereof.

A plurality of switches 24, 25, 26 and 27, having roller arms 28, 29, 30 and 31 are supported on the front side of the plate 12 by posts 12 to one side of and preferably above the shaft 16. As shown in Figs. 1-3, the switches 24, 25 and 26 may be disposed in parallel, side-by-side relationship with the switch 27 opposed thereto and having its roller arm 31 yadjacent and in alinement with the space between the roller arms 29 and 30 of said switches 25 and 26. The roller arms extend parallel to the plate and have their rollers adjacent the plunger head 23. Although subject to variation, the switches have been labelled hot water" (24), cold water (25), stop (26) and drain (27) in Fig. 5.

A plurality of actuating elements 32-38, in the form of cylindrical pins or rods, are provided for contact with the roller arms 28-31 of the switches 24-27. Although the warm drain stop element 32 may contact all of the switch arms and is of continuous diameter throughout themajor portion of its length, the other elements have reduced or recessed portions which from Vshoulders or enlarged portions for contacting only certain of `said switch arms (Fig. 5). The warm drain element 33 has an elongated shoulder or enlarged portion 39 and an outer end portion of reduced diameter for actuating all of the switches except the stop switch 26. An elongated shoulder 40 is formed by a reduced medial portion on the cold drain stop element 34 for actuating all of the switches except the hot water switch 24. The cold drain element 35 has a medial shoulder 41 for actuating the cold water switch 25 and drain switch 27, while all of the switches except said drain switch are actuated by the shoulders 42 at the inner and outer ends of the hot drain stop element 36. Shoulders 43 at the inner end and intermediate the ends of the hot drain element 37 actuate the hot water switch 24 and the drain switch 27, the oli element 38 having a shoulder 44 at its outer end for actuating said drain switch and the stop switch 26. In view of the broken lines 45, 46, 47 and 48 of Fig. 5 which illustrate the alinement of the roller arms of the switches with the various shoulders 39-44, it is believed unnecessary to explain the actuation of said switches in greater detail.

For supporting and revolving the actuating elements into contact with the rollers of the switch arms, a circular member or disk 49 is fixed on the outer end of the shaft 16 by means of an axial boss 50 on its rear surface whereby the disk is rotatable in a plane parallel to and spaced from the plate 12. As shown most clearly in Fig. 3, the disk 49 has a plurality of openings 51 arranged in a circle concentric with its axis and adjacent its periphery. The openings 51 are adapted to receive the reduced inner end portions 52 of the actuating elements which project outwardly of the disk and which are screwthreaded for receiving knurled nuts 53 (Fig. 6). An enlargement or shoulder 54 is formed on each element adjacent its reduced inner end portion 52 for bearing against the inner surface 'of the disk and coacting with the nut 53 to clamp the element to said disk. Of course, this enlargement is shown as a continuation of the shoulders 39, 42 and 43 of the elements 33, 36 and 37 and is formed by the continuous diameter of the major portion of the element 32. A knob 55 for permitting manual turning of the disk is clamped on the outer end of the shaft 16 by a knurled nut 56. Due to this arrangement, the actuating elements extend axially o and between the disk and plate, inwardly of and preferably below the switches 24-27 for contact with the roller arms 28-31.

Since the plunger head 23 of the switch 19 is adjacent and slightly inward of or below the rollers, the actuating elements are moved into substantial registration with said plunger head upon revolution of the disk 49. In order to permit actuation of the switch 19 by one or more of the actuating elements, each element except the oi element 3S has its outer end drilled and tapped to provide a screw-threaded bore or opening 57 for receiving an extension 58 in the form of an axially-extending screw or pin (Fig. 6). If desired, a Washer 59 may be confined upon the screw 58 between its head and the outer end of the element to lengthen the projection of said screw and prolong the actuation of the switch. The pressure head and screw heads are rounded to facilitate engagement and disengagement thereof.

In addition to permitting manual turning of the disk 49, the removability of the knob 55 and its clamping nut 56 facilitates removal of said disk for repair as well as adjustment of the positions of the actuating elements. Due to the large number of the openings 51, the elements may be moved small or large distances to vary the time intervals of operation. Also, the sequence of operation may be altered by changing the relative positions of these elements. It is noted that it is not diicult to move the elements because the clamp nuts 53 are readily detachable. The number of switches may vary from installation to installation and any multiple of any of the actuating elements may be utilized. Since the wiring is more or less conventional, the same has not been illustrated.

The foregoing description of the invention is explanatory thereof and various changes in the size, shape and materials, as well as in the details of the illustrated construction may be made, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A selective sequence timer including a plate, a shaft rotatably supported by the plate, a motor mounted on said plate for driving the shaft, a plurality of electrical switches mounted on said plate in spaced relation to said shaft, a disk fixed on said shaft for rotation therewith relative to the switches and plate, and a plurality of actuating rods extending axially from the disk and arranged in a circle concentric with said shaft for revolving movement by said disk into operative contact with said switches, means for detachably mounting the rods in adjusted positions within the circle on said disk to permit variation in the sequence of and in the intervals between said rods, certain of said rods having axial bores in their outer ends, an extension engaged Vin at least one of the bores for increasing the length of its rod, and an electrical switch mounted on said plate for operative contact by the extension. A

2. A selective sequence timer as set forth in claim 1 wherein the rods have enlarged portions for contacting only certain of said switches, the enlarged portion of at least one of said rods being offset relative to the enlarged portions of the other rods.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,045,251 Raber June 23, 1936 2,149,036 Wermeille Feb. 28, 1939 2,199,184 Mohr a -a Apr. 30, 1940 2,538,315 Keefer a Ian. 16, 1951 2,555,994 Pennell a June 5, 1951 2,606,610 Collier Aug. 12, 1952 2,623,132 Everard Dec. 23, 1952 2,633,508 Miller Mar. 3l, 1953 2,642,490 Capehart June 16, 1953 2,861,138 Simonsson et al. Nov. 18, 1958 f. la 

